Starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



E. G. GBNTZLER.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.-

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 5, 1909.

Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

Show: on [Jzm/"dCGmiZjZe/ v witnomo anisni for such as are used on automobiles an I UNITED s-TATss PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD c. GENTZLER, or COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IOWA.

' QTLBTIHG FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented March as, 190a.

H Application filed January 5. 1909'; Serial No. 470,884.

To it concern;

1 Beat known that I,- EDWARD C.'GENTZLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus Junction, in the county of Louisa shaft at leastonce in order to start the en-' vation and partly in .section 0 gine and the .saidinvention consists in the construction, combination andarrangement of devices herein after shown and described.

Thef crankin as it istermed of internal combustion engines is somewhatdangerous as well as annoying and the object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism by means of which an internal combustion engine 'may be instantly started without the necessity of turning the engine shaft by a crank and without risk of danger or'injury to the operator. In the accompanying drawings :Fig"ure 1 is an elevation of an internal combustion engine provided with astartin mechanism constructed in accordance wit this'invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view artly in elef the starting mechanism. Fig. 3 is .a detail elevation of the same partly in section on the plane in-' dicated by the line 33 of Fig. '2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the clutch blocksf Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalview of the same. x The usual internal combustion engine is indicated ata'in Fig. 1, its crank shaft being.

' indicated at b. In accordance with my invention, I provide the crank shaft with a gear which-"is here indicated as a spur im'on, 1. .On one end or side of the engine is secured a base or bracket 2 which is provided with a socket piece 3 for the reception independent of a ball 4 on one end of a starting shaft 5. The said startin shaft is provided at its outer end with a and-lever 6. On the said shaft at fl'POil'li] about midway is loosely mounted a ear 7 which is free to revolve Ty of the said shaft and is held of this invention, the said of'the s aft 5. Having engaged t from longitudinal movement thereon by a -ahouldcl.,8 which bears on; one side of said gear ifnd a collar!) which bears on the other side of said gear and. is screwed on said shaft as at 10 and further held by a pin 11.

Secured concentrically to the gear 7 on one side thereof and revoluble therewith is with a cam 14 which is longitudina incross section. A pair of clutch blocks 15 are placed within the clutch element 12 and have rounded outer end surfaces 16 adapted to come in frictional contact with the inner surfaceof the fian e 13. Within the scope clutch blocks may be connected together by any suitable means for longitudinal movement. They are here shown as having longitudinal matchin rabbets 17 and as connected to gether, s idably; by guide rods 18. The said clutch blocks are also provided at their inner ends with rounded surfaces 19 to match the cam 14. The said clutch blocks are kept in place on the shaft 5 by a pin 20.

The 0 eration of the invention is as follows y grasping and moving the lever 6, the-operator may put the gear 7 either in or out of engagement with the gear 1. Ini- 'tially the clutch blocks are out of engagement with the flange of the clutch element 12 so that car 7 is free to revolve inde endently he gear 7 with the gear 1, as herein before stated, the

operator'in order to start the engine has only.

"block to move the latter outwardly in opposite directions so as to engage such clutch blocks-with the clutch element 12 and thereby lock the gear 7 of the shaft 5 so that the said gear and shaft will turn to other while the hand lever 6 is being operate and owing to the fact that the diameter of the gear 7 very greatly exceeds that of the gear 1, a partial rotation of said gear 7 will cause crank shaft 1) to be revolved and the engine to be started.

It is obvious that by means of my imroved starting mechanism, the engine can he started almost instantly and at no danger whatever to the operator:

" xv hat is claimedis 1. An engine starting mechanism of the class described comprising in combination with a gear on the engine crank shaft, a starting shaft having an operatin lever, a support for said starting shaft, sai support admitting of said starting shaft being moved toward and from the engine shaft, a gear loose on the starting shaft for'en agement with the gear of the engine crank sha t and disengagement therefrom, a cam on the starting shaft and a clutch comprising an ele ment revoluble with the gear on the starting shaft and an element movable by said cam into engagement with the first mentioned clutch element.

2. Starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a starting shaft movable toward and from the crank shaft of the engine and having means whereby. it may be so moved and may also be partly turned, a gear loose on said starting shaft and adaptedto beengaged with and disengaged .from a gear on the engine crank shaft, a cam on said starting shaft, a clutch element revoluble with said starting gear and having a circular flange and a clutch block movable, radially in said clutch element and o erable by said cam.

3. tarting mechanism for an internal.

combustion engine comprising a starting shaft movable toward and from the crank shaft of the engine and having means whereby it"may be soffmoved and may also be partly turned, a gear looseion said starting shaft and adapted to ,be engaged with and disengaged from a gear on the engine crank shaft, a cam on said starting shaft, a clutch element revoluble with said starting gear and having acircular flange and a pair of clutch blocks on opposite sides of said cam, movable radially thereby into engagement with said flange and means connecting said clutch. blocks together for longitudinal movement.

partly turned, a gear loose on said startin 1 shaft and adapted to be engaged with an disengaged from a gear on the engine crank shaft, a cam on said starting shaft, a clutch element revoluble with said starting gear and having a circular flan e, and a pair of clutch blocks in said revo uble clutch elev ment movable radially with respect thereto and disposed on opposite sides of said startingshaft, said clutch blocks having coengaging guiding and retaining devices.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. I EDWARD C. GENTZLER. Witnesses R. E. G-ENTZLER, CLARENCE KERN. 

